How Does the Media Relate to Anti-Semitism?

The cartoon screamed “blood libel” to many of us. The initial reaction of the Sunday Times wasto state its belief that the cartoon was “not anti-Semitic. It is aimed squarely at Mr Netanyahu and his policies, not at Israel, let alone at Jewish people.”

But who are the media to define what constitutes anti-Semitism and what Jews should find or not find offensive? After all, why would I be qualified to tell a member of an ethnic community or minority group that I do not belong to, what is or is not offensive to them?

Too many times I’ve seen my own organization and other pro-Israel advocates accused of labeling all criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic in order to shut down legitimate debate.

Indeed, at the Global Forum, one journalist complained that media watchdogs had accused her of being an anti-Semite. While I cannot speak for others, I know that this charge is rarely used in my own organization. In the absence of a journalist openly admitting to hating Jews, it is difficult to prove that someone is a bona fide anti-Semite. To accuse someone of being one without being 100% sure of an individual’s intentions is self-defeating.

Intentions are important. In the case of Gerald Scarfe above, it is highly unlikely that Scarfe is an anti-Semite. Yet it is a major concern that an anti-Semitic trope such as the blood libel can enter what is considered to be mainstream and acceptable discourse without be recognized as offensive.

In this case, Scarfe apologized for causing offense and rejected the suggestion that he had set out to produce an anti-Semitic cartoon. In the absence of a track record of similar offensive material, we can only take his word for it.

We have to recognize that most of the anti-Semitic tropes that are appearing in the mainstream media were, most likely, not produced with anti-Semitic intent. This gap between intentions and results needs to be bridged through educating the media as to where the red lines should be drawn.

Drawing the media’s attention to the EUMC Working Definition is a good start. Hopefully one result of the Global Forum will be its widespread dissemination so that the media can avoid printing offensive material and we do not have to see anti-Semitism disguised as criticism of Israel in print or online.

Remember that Yeshua spoke these words when he was crucified, “father forgive them, they know not what they do.” This is the very definition of deception, which is what much of the press is doing, presenting an inaccurate, and lopsided picture of what is going on. God chose Israel for a purpose. In fact the name of the bloodline of Israel implies that they have been purposed to be here for the name ( and all that entails) of God. No offense intended to those who have an issue about the presentation of god’s name. I only capitalize sometimes to promote reverence. In essence, the presentation of Israel to the world is for god’s purpose. And this is the midst of a world almost drowning in evil.

When I see the Anti-Semitism that pervades our media and society, and when I hear the ignorance (or deliberate manipulative malevolent stupidity) which comes from individuals and world leaders who deny the holocaust and deny Israel’s right to exist, it sickens me. Shame on Norway. Shame on those who do not learn from history for they are doomed to repeat it.

Shame on Norway and the Norwegians. My grandmother during WWII, living in northern Norway hid Jews from the Germans. These thankful Jews visited her every year from Holland until they died. Jews have contributed so much to the world in every area. The world ought to be grateful to the Jewish people and supporting them in stead of this relentless persecution.

I’m often told I see anti-Semitism in my sleep. But it doesn’t have to be overt. Hollywood is a master of this. How are Israelis portrayed? How are Jews? If Jewish actors portray a positive character, most often they are not portraying a Jew. When was the last time you saw a positive, heroic image of a Jew on screen? The bias is often subtle. It’s often enabled by ‘Jews’. But I do hear the quacks!